Different departments at Ledford High assist with play

Monday

Jan 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Theater arts teacher Bob Dye jokingly said in the theater world it takes 100 people to prepare one actor for the stage performance.

BY DENEESHA EDWARDSThe Dispatch

WALLBURG | Theater arts teacher Bob Dye jokingly said in the theater world it takes 100 people to prepare one actor for the stage performance.Some would say that's true considering hundreds of students at Ledford High School are helping produce "The Death and Life of Larry Benson," making it a schoolwide production.The play by Reginald Rose talks about Benson's homecoming after being in a war. He was reported missing in action for three years. Upon his return, there is tension from the townspeople wondering who the strange person is. In reality, the person ends up not being Benson, but a friend who met him in the war.The school's fine arts department will perform the play at 7 p.m. Jan. 25 and 26 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 27 at the T. Austin Finch Auditorium in Thomasville. The admission is $10.Attendees are asked to bring greeting cards, puzzle books and playing cards that will be donated to troops as Valentine's Day gifts. Veterans with identification also will be admitted free to the play.Dye said the play draws awareness to soldiers and how war affects the whole family. He noted a lot of people can relate because alumni of the school are in the military, and many families have to experience the effects of someone being a solider."The play is about the military and the stress families had to go through. Everybody can relate. All families go through stressful things," Dye said. "It's a real acting stretch for the students."Several departments in the school jumped on board doing a variety of tasks to make the play successful.For example, the yearbook staff is taking publicity and head shots that will be used in the program, and a construction class has been building the boards that will be used for scenery."It's fun and something to do," said junior Tristan Lovette, a student in the core construction class. "I like this project because it gets the whole school involved. It's not just a theater production, it's a Ledford production."Lovette along with senior Ben Rickard said the class is always helping build items around the school. They agreed that the class helps the students, especially if they plan on going into a career working with their hands. Rickard said building scenery has been interesting for the students. He said the class works a lot with machinery and tools. He plans to study construction management after graduating. "It's neat," Rickard said. An apparel class is designing and altering costumes while the multimedia and web design class is creating the programs for the play. Sophomores Kayla Rickard and Ginny Ganyer are students in the apparel class. They said it's different designing costumes compared to just sewing pillows and regular clothes."It's fun. We're learning about costumes. This will help us later on in life," Kayla Rickard said.Ganyer agreed that the students are learning skills that will help them if they choose to go into fashion. She said some of the costumes are elaborate."I think it's a good idea," she said. "It's a good opportunity to expand what I do. It's a good idea for the whole school to get everyone involved in something besides sports."Senior Devin Carpenter, from the multimedia and web design class, said the class allows them to be creative such as making the programs for the play."It feels good to do something like that," he said. "It's a big responsibility because so many people will see it. It shows students are supportive of each other."In the past, the students have created brochures and websites. Junior Josh Jackson, another student in the class, said this project is positive because it allows everybody to be involved."It seems like a lot of classes are joining together to make it the best it can be," he said. "If we can all join together, we can make something really great."Auditions for the play were open to all students at the school. Dye also noted that there will also be students taking care of tasks during the play nights such as collecting tickets, serving as ushers, passing out programs and handling concessions. He said the band is even participating by prerecording a performance piece that will be played."It's a big production," he said. "It takes more than just the actors. The teachers are really receptive because it's a learning experience for careers students can go into."Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.